Dual purpose pumping apparatus



July 19, 1932. L. F. EASTON 1,867,813

DUAL PURPOSE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllF E L7L, r E I i i .5; a a 1- i i I 1 i i E i l 1- 30 i I l l v ZZZZT7Zzzcz'arzffa z d/qfiwas' B 991/ '-fi/% July 19, 1932. L. F. EASTON DUALPURPOSE I UMPING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z nzrczz Z02" Luczarz FEasfrom 1 MM my.

ZZ/z'frzess Mwi/My July 19, 1932. EASTON 1,867,813

DUAL PURPOSE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 1, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 5'Filed Feb. 1. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aucz'arz Ffasiarz MM Patented July19, 1932 UNETED STATES LUCIAN F. EASTON, OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN DUALPURPOSE PUMPING APPARATUS Application filed February 1, 1930. Serial No.425,087.

This invention relates to improvements in dual purpose pumpingapparatus.

The pumping apparatus of the present invention is designed primarily foruse in ex- 5 causing air and water of condensation from a vacuum steamheating system, although it is applicable for use under other conditionsin which mechanism must be provided for alternately handling liquids andgases.

The mechanism of the present invention employs a rotary pump designed,in the present embodiment of the invention, to rotate in one directiononly, irrespective of whether water or gas is being discharged, andprovision is made for governing the operation of the pump by theemployment of valves which are responsive to the rise and fall of water,so that in all cases the pump mechanism will be properly regulated tohandle the particular fluid (liquid or gas), which is to be dischargedduring a stated interval of operation. For purposes of convenience, itwill be assumed that air and water are the fluids being handled by thepump, although it will, of course, be understood that in the use of theterms air and water I have in contemplation the handling of other fluidsunder analogous circumstances.

In order to make provision for the operation of the pump, when acting asa vacuum pump in the discharge of air, it is necessary to make adequateprovision for the maintenance of a body of water within the pumpchamber, and the present invention is designed in part to conserve andmaintain a sufficient body of water to subserve this purose.

W hen the pump is acting as a centrifugal water pump, the conditions ofoperation are materially altered, since water rather than air will bepassed through the pump, and suitable valves and regulating mechanismare provided for controlling such conditions.

The invention is one which embodies means for automatically regulatingthe action of the pump mechanism, so that when water accumulates fromthe system with which the mechanism is associated, the pump will beproperly conditioned to discharge such water and thereafter will bereconditioned to act as a vacuum pump until water has again accumulatedin sufficient amount to require discharge.

Further details of the invention will appear from the descriptionthereof, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein theapparatus as a whole is illustrated more or less diagrammatically, andwherein,-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a simplified form of the apparatusinvolved in the present invention, which omits the vacuum tank and theair eliminator trap; r

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, taken on lin 22 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction of the arrows, but including the vacuum tank and trap in amore complex embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation, showing the embodiment of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the bucket float tank and associatedparts.

The apparatus as a whole comprises the following principal mechanisms ordevices: a receiving tank A; a float tank B; a dual purpose rotary pumpC; a motor D; and a vacuum switch E.

In addition to the features above described, a vacuum tank F may beemployed, and a trap G may be employed under special conditions, iftheir inclusion is deemed desirable.

As shown, the apparatus is associated with a radiator system indicateddiagrammatically at H, and a boiler indicated diagrammatically at I.

As shown, and as a matter of convenience and compactness inconstruction, the receiving tank A serves as a base or mounting for thepump C, the float tank B, and the motor 1), although obviously thevarious mechanisms might be otherwise mountedand supported. v

The piping arrangement serves to exam plify the principles of thepresent invention, but may he obviously rearranged or repositioned toconform to local requirements.

The pump C is illustrated sufliciently to indicate its generalconstruction and mode of Lil operation, but it is not deemed necessaryto illustrate or describe its specific structural details, which form nopart of the present invention.

The pump as shown comprises an outer shell 10 which incloses a chamber11, within which is located the rotor casing which houses the rotor 18.The rotor casing is of generally drum shaped formation, having acylindrical wall 14, which on one side is carried inwardly and given acurvature of shorter radius to afford a block-ofli' wall 15, which liesclosely contiguous to the tips of the rotor blades 16, which as shownare of forwardly curving formation with respect to the direction ofrotation, which is indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2, and which is thereshown as being anti-clockwise- The rotor casing has flat end walls 17'which lie closely adjacent to the side edges of the rotor blades, theconfiguration of the casing as a whole being such that the tips of theblades will lie in somewhat widely spaced relation to the curving sidewall. of the ing, save at the pointwhere the side wall is spacedinwardly to constitute a block-off wall.

Immediately adjacent to the upper and 'lower ends of the block-ofl'wall, the rotor casing is provided with outwardly extending V nipples 18and 19. which receive the ends of with an air discharge port 22 ofarcuate formation, the lower or inner edge of which lies in concentricrelation with the rotor hub. One end of each of the air discharge portslies in substantially radial alignment with the upper terminus of theblock-off wall 15, and

each of the ports opens outwardly into the outer chamber 11 of the pumpshell Immediately below the inlet passage 21 is located a small waterinlet port 23 which establishes communication between the lower portionof the rotor casing and the outer chamber 11. Air is discharged from thechamber 11 in the outer shell, through an air discharge pipe or conduit24 leading to the top of the float tank B, and, in addition to the lineof communication thus established, the outer casing is connected withthe lower portion of the float tank through the provision of a waterpassage 25, which, as shown, is formed in the top wall of the receivingtank A and leads from the bottom of the chamber 11 to the bottom of thefloat tank, a substantially uniform water level being maintained withinthe float tank and the outer chamber of the pump.

The water discharge Venturi tube 20 communicates with a pipe 26 whichmay constitute the return to the boiler I, or other point to which thewater is to be delivered. The water discharge line of communicationleads through a header 27 into the lower end of which is entered theupper end of a pipe sec tion 28 which is aligned with the inlet of theVenturi tube 21, and the lower enc of the pipe line 28 is entered into abottom chamber 29 located in the base of the receiving tank A- Theheader also receives the end of an air inlet pipe line 30, which leadsupwardly to the vacuum tank F, in cases where a vacuum tank is employed.

In order to more clearly understand the purpose and mode of operation ofthe float controlled valve mechanism presently to be described, it isproper at this point to indicate briefly the mode of operation of themain features of the apparatus heretofore referred to.

Nhen the pump is conditioned to operate as a vacuum pump, it isnecessary to maintain within the rotor chamber asufficient volume ofwater to coact with the rotor blades in the maintenance of a rapidlyrevolving ring of water which under centrifugal force travels around theperipheral wall of the rotor easing under the influence of the rotorblades, but this ring of water is insufficient in amount to completelyfill the spaces between the blades, so that, between the successiveblades, air pockets will be provided.

Air sucked in throu 'h the inlet tube 21 will be trapped within thepockets by the ring of water and carried around until the water ringencounters the block-off wall 15, at which point the charges of waterwill be driven inwardly and cause an expulsion of trapped air throughthe discharge ports 22 and into the outer chamber 11 of the pump shell,whence the air will escape through the air discharge conduit 24. Thiscondition of operation, however, will be maintained only so long as theoutflow of water is prevented through the water discharge tube 20,which, during this adjustment of the pump, will be closed, so that thewater ring will be maintained within the rotor casing.

The conditions above explained will continue until water begins to flowin with the air through the inlet tube 21, and in view of the fact thatthis inflowing water cannot, at this stage, find discharge through thetube 20, it will be forced through the air discharge ports 22 and intothe outer chamber 11 of the pump shell, thereby increasing the waterlevel in the pump shell and correspondingly increasing the water levelin the float tank B. This increase of the water level in the float tankB is utilized to open the valve which controls the discharge of waterthrough the discharge tube 20, so that,

at the proper time and after the air has been exhausted to the desiredeXtent, the pump will be conditioned to handle the accumulation of waterby the opening of the valve in the pipe line 2026, to return theaccumulated water to the boiler or other point of delivery.

The port 23 in the bottom of the rotor casing is relied upon to maintainwithin the rotor casing a suflicient volume of water to provide thewater ring required in the op eration of the pump as a vacuum pump.

With this brief description of the essential requirements of the pumpoperation, the construction and method of control aiforded b the valvesnow to be described will be more clearly understood.

The water discharge pipe line 26 has located therein a valve, which maybe of the type commonly known as a handy gate valve 31, and the airinlet pipe 30 is also provided with a similar valve 32. These valves arearranged to operate in reverse relation to one another through themedium of links 33 and 34 connected to valve levers 35 and 36.

The link 34 is connected to the valve lever 36 by a slot connection 37,so that the operation of the valve lever 36 will lag behind theoperation of the valve lever 35. The two valves in question arecontrolled by the rise and fa l of a bucket float 38 in the float tankB, which bucket operates a bent arm 39 rigidly secured to a short rockshaft 40, the ends of which are journalled within the side walls of aprotruding portion 41 of the side wall of the tank B. The rock shaft 40exteriorly of the protrusion 41 carries an arm 42 upon which is mounteda counterweight 43 to which the upper link 33 is secured.

The valve arrangement is one which insures a closing of the water outletvalve 31 when the float descends to its lowermost position, and asomewhat delayed opening of the valve 32 during the descending movementof the float. Since the water is maintained at the same level in thefloat tank and in the outer chamber of the pump, it is evident that araising of the water level, due to an excess accumulation of water, willhave the effect of opening the vaive 31 and permitting the excess ofwater to be discharged by the centrifugal action of the pump through thewater discharge line 20-26, and that this discharge of water willcontinue until the water level in the pump chamber 11 and in the floattank has been lowered sufficiently to reverse the valve arrangement andagain block off the discharge of water, which transforms the pump from acentifugal water pump into a vacuum pump, and at the same time maintainsa suificient volume of water to meet the requirements of the latteroperation. If the valve 32 is disconnected and closed, thetransformation from water to air will be gradual,

during which time some water and some air will be pumped.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3, where the,vacuum tank F is employed, the water of condensation from a radiatorsystem is returned to the receiving tank A through a pipe 44 whichenters near the top of the tank, and communication between the mainchamber in the tank and the chamber 29 in the base thereof isestablished through a throated aperture 45, which may be controlled by avalve plate 46 carried by a stem 47 depending from a float 48.

The valve plate 46 is somewhat loosely positioned upon its valve seat,and in addition is provided with a minute port 49, so that the seatingof the valve does not completely close communication between the upperand lower chambers of the receiving tank.

The motor D serves to drive the rotor of the pump through a shaft 50,and the energizing of the motor is controlled by means of the vacuumswitch E, which is electrically connected with the motor through wiring51.

Where a vacuum tank is notemployed, the vacuum switch is connected withthe receiving tank through a line of piping 52 leading to the upperportion of the receiving tank, so that the vacuum conditions establishedwithin the receiving tank will be communicated to the switch and willserve to actuate the switch for the purpose of energizing the motor whenthe vacuum falls below a predetermined degree and shutoff the motor whenthe vacuum rises to a predetermined degree. Also, when a vacuum tank isnot used, the float valve 4847 must be removed, so that the gas as wellas the water may be exhausted from the receiving tank.

The pump inlet pipe line 28 is provided with a check valve 53 near thelower end thereof, and the discharge pipe line 26 is provided with acheck valve 54.

As shown, the air discharge passage 24 leads to the top of the floatchamber, and the discharging air entering the float chamber is eductedthrough a pipe 55, which may dis charge directly or may lead to a trap56, within which is located a float valve 57 having oppositely disposedupper and lower valve stems 58 and 59, which control the inlet andoutlet ports to the trap, the air being finally educted through a port60, and water of condensation which may accumulate in the trap beingreturned through a pipe 55 to the receiving tank or other portion of thesystem.

In cases where leaky steam traps are included within the radiatorsystem, it is desirable to employ the vacuum tank F, which is located ata relatively high level, and where the vacuum tank is employed, thevacuum switch is placed in communication with the vacuum tank through apipe 61, as shown in Fig. 3, rather than in communication with thereceiving tank. Also, in this connec- 'pumped, so it would not work.

tion, the vacuum tank is placed in communication with the receiving tankthrough a pipe 62 within which is located the thermostatic valve member62*.

Where the vacuum tank is employed, it isplaced in communication with theheader 27 through the pipe 30, which is controlled by the valve 32,which pipe 30 has located therein a check valve 63.

In the construction shown, the rotor blades are curved forwardly, whichis the most efficientarrangement for the pumping of air, while the pumpis acting as a vacuum pump, although this arrangement of the blades issomewhat less efficient in the pumping of water, but for the purposes ofthe present invention, where the rotor rotates always in a singledirection, the arrangementshown is a desirable one. The tips and sidesof the blades are accurately machined, so that only a very slightclearance is afforded at the sides, although a somewhat larger clearanceis allowable as the blades pass the blockoff wall.

It will be noted from the construction as described that the rise andfall of the float is in turn strictly in harmony with the amount ofwater passing through the pump, for when the revolving water strikes theupper end of the block-oft, it will, if the gate is closed, be forcedtowards the hub of the rotor, and if, in sufiicient quantity, will passthrough the air outlet in the side walls of the rotor casing, therebyraising the level of the water and with it the control float which opensthe gate to the extent required to handle the wa ter. If, however, theamount of water passing through the pump becomes less, it ceases to flowoutward, and then begins to be drawn into the rotor chamber by thevacuum created therein. This is also assisted and made certain tooperate soon enough by the small passage 23 from outside the chamber atthe bottom into the rotor chamber at the point of strongest suction.

The diameter of the rotor and the R. P. M. must be proportioned to givesui'licient centrifugal force to the water to overcome the pressurepumped against and the negative pressure of the vacuum created in thepump. For example, a rotor three inches wide and five inches outside thetips of the blades running at 1700 R. P. M. will discharge no wateragainst a nine foot head, even with the handy gate wide open after thevacuum has reached eighteen inches, while the same pump handled sixteengallons per minute against a nine foot head butwith only two inches ofvacuum, and. this with the blades curved forward, which is the reverseof what they should be for greatest efliciency. However, with the motorchanged end for end while the pumping of water was smooth and requ1ringlittle power practically no vacuum was The blades must not curvebackward for pumping vacuum. The same pump blades curved forward showedone and a fourth inch vacuum with a half inch orifice.

The operation of the pump as shown in Figure 1 is as follows: When thepump is started, a vacuum is created in the lower vacuum tank, and thisdraws water from the system. As soon as the system has been more or lessfreed from water, the vacuum is rapidly increased to say fifteen inches,when the vacuum switch shuts oil the power. The pump will then standidle until the vacuum destroys itself by causing a rapid circulationwith resulting condensation. When the vacuum falls to, say, five inches,the vacuum switch starts the motor and the process isrepeated.

The check valve on the branch line 28 leadthe bottom of the lower vacuumtank is only to prevent destruction of vacuum when the pump is notrunning.

T 1e combination float vent trap or air eliminator 56 and water returndevice is only necessary to prevent a loss of water from the system incase the pump is not running and the pump fills with water, there beingno vacuum on the system, or in case of eXcessive flow of water.

The connection 25 between the outer pump chamber and the float tankshould be such that they are practically one and the same.

The upper Venturi tube 20 is the discharge for water and may leaddirectly to the boiler through the check valve 54 to prevent back flow,or it may deliver the water into a receptacle, from which it is pumpedinto the boiler by an ordinary condensation pump, which may or may notbe driven by the same motor as a duel purpose pump.

When no more water enters the pump, the excess water in the floatchamber is rapidly drawn into the rotor chamber through a clearance anda small hole near the suction end of the block-off. This may finallyalmost entirely close the handy gate when the pump becomes a straightvacuum pump.

The above describes the hook up of the pump in its simplest form, but insome cases the system may have leaky steam traps which will tend to heatthe pump too hot for efficient operation. To overcome this, the uppervacuum tank may be used. This vacuum tank is connected to the system orto the lower tank in such a manner that practically all of the air isdrawn through this tank. This suction tank is protected from excessiveheat by a thermostatic valve interposed between it and the system.

The suction from this upper vacuum tank leads down through the handygate valve 32 and joins the other suction through a manifold between thetwo Venturi tubes. The two handy gate valves are so located that theycan be operated together by the float lever, but

ios

.i load of water.

also in such a manner that as one opens the other closes. The lower one,however, does not start to open until the other is about half closed.The lower one is also held closed by a weight 43a, and the connectingrod which joins it to the upper lever is slotted.

In connection with the upper vacuum tank, the float valve 46 in thesuction from the lower tank may be used, so that when water falls to acertain point the pumping of water will be stopped, thereby causingnothing but cooler air from the vacuum tank to be handled by the pump.The vacuum in the upper tank will therefore at most times when thesystem is heating be somewhat higher than in the system or lower tank,and the lower float valve will be held to its seat until the pump isstopped.

It will be noted that this float valve is either a loose fit not seatingperfectly or provided with the small hole 49, so that when the pumpstops, the float valve is free to rise with any accretion of water.

It will be noted that the upper opening of the manifold is plugged, andthat another hole between the Venturi tubes is used. This becomesnecessary because the upper opening interferes with the float lever.

It will also be noticed that by reason of the slot connection 37 thelower handy gate is only opened about half way. This becomes necessaryto prevent overloading the motor by admitting air when the pump has afull As both gates are shown to be the same in size, the half opening isample for air.

If desired. in place of the float valve in the bottom of the lower tank,the differential higher vacuum in the upper vacuum tank may be obtainedby so piping the suction from the system out of the lower tank, if it isused. that suflicient lift is given to the suction of the water that thecolumn of water in suction will create the differential. Also, ifdesired, the lower tank may be done away with. and the water may then bepiped high enoughup to the pump to create differential vacuum. In thiscase. the pipe leading through the thermostatic valve to the uppervacuum tank should be taken off at the highest point from the returnmain, so that air will not become pocketed.

While in all cases the pump has been shown with. the Venturi tubesextending horizontally, it should be understood that the pump may beturned in any direction, and it will also be understood that while thearrangement shown includes a float in the float tank, which is operatedin conformity with the liquid level maintained in the outer chamber ofthe pump, nevertheless, the invention c0n-' templates the use of valveoperating mecha nisms which are suitably controlled by the level of thewater in the system, provided only that suitable means are employed forconditioning the operation of the pump, either as a vacuum pump or acentrifugal pump, depending upon the accumulation of water, with dueregard to the requirement that suificient water be maintained in thepump casing to meet the requirements of the rotor when acting as avacuum pump.

I claim:

1. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-ofl'wall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber. inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, .and means responsive to variations in the waterlevel in the outer chamber for opening and closing the discharge passagefrom the interior of the rotor casing, to transform the pump from acentrifugal water pump to a vacuum pump.

2. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, in cluding a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, and means responsive to variations in the water levelin the outer chamber for opening and closing the discharge passage fromthe interior of the rotor casing, to transform the pump from acentrifugal water pump to a vacuum pump, the rotor casing being providedwith a passage from the outer chamber for admitting water tothe interiorof the rotor casing to maintain the water required by the rotor inoperating as a vacuum pump.

3. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to aflord an air discharge port between the retor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leadingfromthe outer chamber, a valve for controlling thedischarge passage fromthe interior of therotor casing, and float mechanism responsive tovariations in the accumulation of water within the outer chamber forclosing said valve in response to a reduction in such water accumulationand opening said valve in response to an increase pump from acentrifugal water pump to a vacuum pump.

4:. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-ohwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber,

inlet and discharge passages leading to and from the interior of therotor casing, an air discharge passage leading from the outer chamber, avalve for controlling the discharge assa e from the interior of therotor casin 23 7 and float mechanism responsive to variations in theaccumulation of water within the outer chamber for closing said valve inresponse to a reduction in such water accumulation for I transformingthe pump from a centrifugal water pump to a vacuum pump, the rotorcasing being provided with an aperture communicating with the outerchamber for admitting water to the interior of the rotor casing tomaintain the water, required by the rotor from the interior of the rotorcasing, an air discharge passage leading from the outer chamber, a valvein the water discharge passage, a float chamber in communication withthe outer chamber of the pump for maintainv ing uniform water levelwithin the float chamher and said outer chamber, a float within thefloat chamber, and connections between said float and said valve forclosing the valve upon the lowering of the water within the'floatchamber, and opening the valve upon the rise of the water, to transformthe pump from a Water pump to an air pump, and vice versa.

6. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge portbetween the rotor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, a receiving tank for water in communication with theinlet passage leading to the interior of the rotor casing, means forsupplying water to the receiving tank, a valve in the discharge passagefrom the rotor casing, and means responsive to variations in the amountof water in the outer chamber which in turn is in harmony with theamount of water delivered to the pump from the receiving tank foropening and closing said valve.

7. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-0Ewall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamb r, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, a receiving tank for Water in communication with theinlet passage leading to the interior of the rotor casing, means forsupplying water to the receiving tank, a valve in the discharge passagefrom the rotor casing, a float tank in direct communication with theouter pump chamber for maintaining uniform water level in the pumpchamber and the tank, a float in the float tank, and connections betweensaid float and said valve for opening and closing the valve in responseto variations in the water level.

8. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, a receiving tank for water in communication withtheinlet passage leading to the interior of the rotor casing, means forsupplying fluid to the receiving tank, a valve in the discharge passagefrom the rotor cas ing, a float tank in direct communication with theouter pump chamber for maintaining uniform water level in the pumpchamber and the tank, a float in the float tank, and connections betweensaid float and said valve for opening and closing the valve in responseto variations in the water level, and a float in the receiving tank forrestricting the discharge of water therefrom.

9. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, including a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, a vacuum tank, means of communication between thevacuum tank and the inlet to the interior of the rotor casing, a valvein said communicating means, a valve in the outlet passage from theinterior of the rotor casing, and means responsive to variations in theaccumulation of water in the outer cham her for operating said valves inreverse relation to one another, to transform the pump from acentrifugal water pump to a vacuum pump and vice versa.

10, In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump, ineluding a rotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-offwall, and a surrounding shell lurnishing an outer chamber, the casingbeing apertured to afford an air discharge port between the rotor casingand the outer chamber, inlet and discharge passages leading to and fromthe interior of the rotor casing, an air discharge passage leading fromthe outer chamber, a vacuum tank, means of communication between. thevacuum tank and the inlet to the interior of the rotor casing, a valvein said communicating means, a valve in the outlet passage from theinterior of the rotor casing, 21 float tank in direct communication withthe outer pump chamber for maintaining uniformity of water level withinthe tank and chamber, a float within the float tank, and connectionsbetween said float and said valves for operating the valves in reverserelation in response to variations in the water level for transformingthe pump from a centrifugal water pump to a. vacuum pump, and viceversa.

11. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a fluid pumpprovided with fluid inlet and water discharge passages and an airdischarge passage, and means responsive to variations in the amount ofwater in the outer chamber which in turn is in harmony with the amountof water delivered to the pump for opening and closing the waterdischarge passage from the pump to transform the pump from a water pumpto a vacuum pump.

12. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump provided with fluid inlet and water discharge passages and anair outlet passage, the pump being adapted to retain water within itselfto a predetermined level for operating as a vacuum pump, means foropening and closing the water discharge passage, and means responsivetoa rise of water within the pump above the operating level and adaptedthereupon to open the means for controlling the discharge through thewater passage and to close such means upon the reduction of water withinthe pump to the vacuum operating T level.

13. In pumping apparatus of the class described, the combination of afluid pump provided with fluid inlet and water discharge passages and anair outlet passage, the pump being adapted to retain water within itselfupon to open the means for controlling the discharge through the waterpassage and to close such means upon the reduction of water within thepump to the vacuum operating level. i

14. In a pumping system of the class described, the combination of anoperatively controlled fluid pump and separator provided with suitableinlets and outlets for receiving and discharging gas and liquid, means ior conducting and controlling the flow of gas and liquid to and from thepump, the liquid discharge control being such that while at all timesthe discharge is adequate it will not disable the pumping of gas, andthermostatically operated means adapted to restrict the flow of gas tothe pump when the temperature of the gas rises to a predetermineddegree.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of acentrifugal vacuum pump provided with an inlet and a gas outlet, whichoutlet is radially near the center of the pump, and with avalve-controlled peripheral discharge for liquid, with means adapted toopen the valve to permit escape oi surplus liquid through the peripheraloutlet thereby preventing continued discharge of liquid through the gasoutlet, and adapted to close such control valve to prevent escape ofnonsurplus liquid.

16. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of acentrifugal vacuum pump including a rotor and means for actuating therotor, a rotor casing provided with a block-oii' wall and a surroundingshell furnishing an outer chamber, the casing being apertured to furnisha fluid passage between the rotor chamber and the outer chamber, a fluidinlet passage to and a liquid discharge passage from the rotor chamber,a gas discharge passage from the outer chamber, a valve controlling thedischarge of liquid from the rotor chamber, and automatic means foractuating such valve in harmony with the level of fluids in the rotorchamber, said means operating to close the valve against a loss ofliquid from the rotor chamber which will reduce the quantity belowpumping requirements and to open the valve to allow the liquid beyondsuch requirements to be centrifugally discharged, thereby providing forthe discharge of liquid and gas,

17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of acentrifugal vacuum pump including a rotor and means for actuating therotor, a rotor casing furnishing a rotor chamber and provided with ablock-off wall, and a surrounding shell furnishing an outer casing, thecasing being apertured to afford a gas discharge passage from and aliquid inlet passage to the rotor chamber from the outer chamber, afluid inlet passage to and a liquid discharge passage from the rotorchamber, a gas discharge passage from the outer chamber, a valvecontrolling the discharge of liquid through the liquid discharge passagefrom the rotor chamber, and means l'or actuating vsaid valve in harmonywith the stat-us of the fluids of the rotor chamber, such means beingadapted to close the valve against a loss of liquid beyond the vacuumpumping requirements of the pump and opening such valves to allow theexcess beyond such requirements to be centritugally discharged, therebyproviding for the discharge of'liquids and gases. 18. In avpumpingsystem of the class described, the combination of a centrifugal fluidpump having impeller blades and wherein the pumping medium is a mass ofliquid revolved by the impeller blades, the pump having restrainingwalls of such configuration that the revolving liquid will take the formof an indented ring, the pump being provided with an inlet for fluidlocated radially near the departure end of the indentation, and therestraining wall being also provided near this point with a smallerinlet for liquid for keeping the pump primed, and also provided with anoutlet for liquid located in proximity to the periphery and near theapproach end of the indentation, and also provided with an outlet forgas located approximately in radial alignment with the outlet for liquidbut nearer to the center of rotation, a source from which fluids are tobe pumped, a conduit pipe for fluids connecting such source to the inletfor fluid, a pipe line leading from the liquid outlet of the pump, avalve interposed in such pipe line, means for operating in conformitywith the liquid passing through the pump to open the valve of the liquiddischarge pipe line when an excess of liquid has accumulated, therebyallowing such excess to be discharged, said means being adapted to closesuch valve with a reduction in the accumulation of liquid to retainliquid for the pumping of gas, and check valves in the inlet and liquidoutlet of the pump.

19, In apparatus of the class described, the combination of acentrifugal fluid pump having impeller blades rotating a mass of liquidwithin restraining walls of such configuration that the liquid will takethe form of an indented ring, the pump being provided with an inlet forfluid located radially near the departure end of indentation and alsoprovided near this point with a smaller inlet for liquid to keep thepump primed, also provided with a valve controlled peripheral outlet forliquid radially near the approach end of indentation, also provided withoutlets for gas located approximately in radial align ment with theoutlet for liquid but nearer the center of rotation, a source from whichfluids are to be pumpedin communication with the inlet for fluids, adestination for, liquid in communication with the valve-controlledoutlet for liquid, a float chamber provided with an outlet, containing afloat, and in com munication with outlets for gas, connecting meansbetween the float and the peripheral liquid outlet valve whereby whenthe float is raised by the flow of liquid through the gas outlets thevalve is opened, thereby diverting the discharge of liquid from the gasoutlets to the liquid outlet, communicating means between the floatchamber and the smaller priming inlet for the liquid, whereby when theflow of liquid through the gas outlets is sufficiently checked theliquid will be withdrawn from' the float chamber, thereby lowering thefloat and closing the connected valve against a discharge of liquidbelow the pumping requirements, and a float operated valve controllingthe discharge from the outlet of the float chamber, whereby the liquidis prevented and the gas is allowed to discharge.

20. In pumping apparatus of the class described, adapted to functionthrough the medium of a rotating liquid ring, the combination of a rotorchamber and rotor, the chamher being provided with an inlet for fluidand an outlet for liquid, and an adjoining communicating chamber adaptedto replenish the liquid required in the ring within the rotor chamber,an outlet for gas being provided from the rotor chamber to the adjoiningchamber, and automatic means responsive to the quantitative status ofthe fluids in the apparatus to prevent the discharge of the liquid ringand to allowthe discharge of excess liq uid not required for such ring,thereby providing for the pumping of gas and liquid, either or both asrequired.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my namethis 9th day of January, 1930.

LUCIAN F. EASTON.

